I read in the press that new rules have been introduced under the Management of Sentencing and Offenders Bill instructing Judges etc to take into consideration prison population and overcrowding before sentencing someone to jail. Surely if a custodial sentence is imposed it should be because it is justified on the evidence and nature of the crime and any previous history of a defendant - not...

Can a 55-year-old DIY enthusiast qualify to do his own electrical installations under the new regulations by passing exams, attending courses etc? Would he need to get actual employment as an apprentice which would be almost impossible in view of his age? Would the position be any different if he had served a 5-year apprenticeship as an electrician 35 years ago but the firm he worked for then...

Small company undertakes services for large company in which it acts as agent for large company in organising and managing an activity. Services completed, appears to go well - hiccoughs managed on the day - costs as per preagreed sheets. Wrap-up meeting held one week after event and large company says it went well, no outstanding issues. Small company starts to wrap up outstanding bills etc and...

Hello, I got dismissed for lack of work after 8 months working for a small company -- nothing to say about that --, but did not receive my December and final pay! Not that much overdue yet, but I fear the worst. You see, my contract was never prepared, a student colleague wasn't paid for months, expenses rejected, etc. So, I expect my pay, too, will be delayed and re-negotiated for vaccation,...

Without charge or trial various individuals are being imprisoned as alleged terrorists under the Labour Government. It appears to me human rights, British sense of fair play, democracy and natural justice is a foreign language to Labour leaders in our Government. One would be forgiven if one did not think that one was living in Nazi Germany or the former Soviet Union rather than in Britain...

First a thank you to Don Aitken for answering my previous question on squatters rights. A question about gaining a right to an easement. (1) An individual X makes an access (for his car) out of his garden into a private road without being given permission. How long if ever does this access have to exist unchallenged by the owner of the private road before it can become registered as a right of...

I've just realised that an online shop sent me the wrong printer. On 29 Sept 04 I ordered and paid for a HP 2550Ln (cost approx £350) and they sent a HP2550L (cost approx £290). The 'n' is for network, I just tried to install the printer on the network yesterday and found there was no network cable socket because it's the wrong model. It model no 2550l is written on the front of the machine,but...

I currently own my own house and some time ago bought a garage in which to keep my car. I am now in such a position that I'll no longer need the garage (I'm having a drive installed) and am thinking of selling it. Hopefully it will achieve a small profit but that wasn't the prime objective in purchasing it. I have always used it to store my car so it's effectively been part of my primary...

Some in this group might be aware that several big Bittorrent sites have closed recently in the face of legal action. Some of these sites, like uknova and tvtorrents, dealt exclusively in providing links to shared files of TV and radio shows and excerpts, sometimes internationally, and some focussing on one nation, which could be simultaneously downloaded and uploaded by the sites' users. Aside...

Happy New Year to you all Can anyone give me any advise, my stepdad died 22 Dec. He made a will in my favour.The whole amount before funeral cost, phone bill etc is under £5000. His brothers yesterday at the funeral told me they intend to contest the will. What do I do next, His housing association rented bungalow has to be cleared by the end of the week. The will was made out while he was in...

While trying to get some sort of pension forecast, I was asked to provide date of marriage and divorce, both of which I've forgotten. The solicitor office has moved, and I can't even remember the nameof the name of the office. :-( Is this possible, if so how do I go about getting this info, and/or getting copies of the papers. Thanks Nick

Hi there, A friend of mine lost her job about a year ago and hasnt been able to find more work. She had a loan from her bank and was insured on it, til it expired. Now, the bank are on her back. They have tried to persuade her to re-finance but wont due to the high level of interest she will have to pay. Shes paid back more than the full amount she originally borrowed in interest alone and...

Copyright infringement I run a web site where members can post their holiday photographs but also other pictures which may interest or amuse other members. My question is this. If one of the members were to post a copyrighted photograph / picture could I have any problems arising out of the hosting of such photographs. Example if David Bailey saw one of his photos on the site could he charge me...

I hired a car in Germany over the weekend. After driving it for only a few minutes, barely out of the airport complex, the oil pressure warning light came on. Following the manufacturer's handbook I stopped to buy some oil, topped it up and continued on my way. The same issue came to light on my return journey to the airport. Again I bought some oil at a motorway service station and topped it up,...

I have sent 4 to this group today , yet only the third one has arrived (and the 4th was only a minute or so back so I don't expect to see that) I can see no trace of the first two on the moderation website -- Alex "I laugh in the face of danger , then I hide until it goes away" www.drzoidberg.co.uk

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4119135.stm Go on then , how many did you get? -- Alex "I laugh in the face of danger" "Then I hide until it goes away" www.drzoidberg.co.uk

In "The Winter's Tale" Shakespeare says:- I would there were no age between sixteen and three-and-twenty, or that youth would sleep out the rest; for there is nothing in the between but getting wenches with child, wronging the ancientry, stealing, fighting. Modern academic research suggests that 23 is still the age by which most offenders pack it in and settle down. Clever old chap, wasn't he?

I ordered a computer that had been reviewed/lab tested by one of the PC magazines on 20/11/04, stipulating that it had to be delivered before Christmas. The total cost, including delivery and extended warranty was £997.64, paid by CC. I chased up delivery on a regular basis up until 21/12/04 when I was informed that the delivery was on hold due to lack of speakers. I asked for the system to be...

(for the whole year (since the group started)) -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Statistics for uk.legal.moderated, 2004

Suppose a middle-aged couple from the UK had gone on holiday to Sri Lanka over Christmas. The male partner disappeared without trace and the female survived and eventually returned home. With no body and no death certificate, what legal quagmire would his executors have to wade through to settle his estate. It used to be a wait of 7 years after which an application could be made to the court...